Latinas in STEM Scholarship

One trip to Brooklyn, New York. That is what it took for me to decide I wanted to spend my life helping our planet by pursuing a career in climate change adaptation and resilience. In high school, I participated in a summer program with Sustainable Learning Inc., focused on sustainable planning and resilience. I saw the intimate realities of a future tainted by greenhouse gas emissions. I realized the damages from increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, and melting ice caps were inevitable and would disproportionately affect marginalized communities. I decided to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a minor in Geography to prepare our world for the changing climate. I am a first-generation Latina student who is currently a sophomore at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In addition to my course load of chemistry, biology, calculus, and more- I constantly pursue opportunities outside of school like research, activism, and volunteering. Navigating the waters of college has been a big challenge. I have had to figure out everything alone- from applying to financial aid, to picking classes, to finding internships. I have had to take responsibility for my education and do my research to make the most of it. In my first Fall quarter, I joined a fellowship with the Sierra Club to learn how to pursue climate justice through policy and activism. In my Winter quarter, I joined an environmental activism organization called CALPIRG. I quickly took on leadership and was elected Treasurer by my spring quarter. Since then I have led meetings, organized large events, and improved our fundraising techniques to generate $92,000 from UC Santa Barbara Students. I was nominated as 1 of 7 Environmental Studies students by the Department of Environmental Studies to be a fellow with a new program that linked the graduate school, the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, and the Undergraduate Department of Environmental Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Through this program, I have partaken in opportunities like networking, professional mentoring, and preparation for graduate school. My experiences with CALPIRG and fellowship with the Bren School helped me earn an internship last summer that continued into the school year. I am an undergraduate researcher with the Environmental Markets Lab. I assist in mapping plantations to visualize the environmental impacts of land-use changes in Indonesia. This upcoming summer, I will be an intern in the compliance department for the Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District where I will assist in regulating emissions and strategizing to improve air quality in my community. Being a first-generation Latina in STEM comes with a plethora of challenges like entering labs with mostly male students, constantly feeling out of place, restless nights studying for exams, navigating cultural differences, and much more. However, I have found overcoming these challenges is extremely rewarding. I know that I am doing positive work to combat climate change and make a positive impact. I hope to pursue a career in environmental consulting right out of college to help private and public agencies achieve their sustainability goals. Long-term I hope to work in developing climate action plans for urban and rural areas all around the world and keep environmental justice at the heart of all I do. I know that with all of my experiences, passions, and motivation I will be able to achieve these goals and construct a better world. 

This scholarship will allow me to graduate without the burden of financial stress so that I can focus on helping the world prepare for climate change and helping first-generation Latinas in STEM pursue their dreams.